Corporate Governance

A major experiment is set to begin soon on the campus of the University of Arkansas that could determine how retailers use robots, also known as autonomous terrestrial drones, to make deliveries.

Beginning April 1, London-based Starship Technologies will be turning heads on the rolling hills of the University of Arkansas campus as an important experiment gets underway to gauge human interaction with autonomous land-based vehicles.

Sears, Kohl's and The Home Depot are among the retailers that have earned 2016 Energy Star awards from the EPA for leadership in sustainability efforts.

Each year, the Environmental Protection Agency honors a select group of organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. Whether a first time Partner of the Year winner, or a Sustained Excellence winner, these small and large organizations from across the country are leading the energy efficiency movement.

Photo: Aritaum, H-Mart, Ridgefield, New Jersey

Ross Dress for Less opened a new store in El Paso, Texas on March 5.

With the retail environment changing so rapidly today, and technology impacting everything a store does, the role of the chief financial officer has become more important than ever. When I started recruiting in 1990, the business was much simpler — we hired retail executives based on a linear skillset and departments operated in individual silos. Today, it is much more complex, as the C-suite works in collaboration to keep up with an increasingly savvy consumer.

So, what then do you look for in a CFO today?

Online luxury consignment retailer The RealReal continues to make moves in the physical world as it seeks to simplify how customers interact with its innovative retail model.

San Francisco-based The RealReal began establishing a direct physical presence last August when it opened an office in New York City to authenticate and accept goods for sale, followed by a location this past February in Los Angeles. And it has now opened a third location focused on jewelry and watches in Chicago.